CALS Ambassadors' Hot Topics

Leadership

2009-11-18T11:43:00.002-05:00

This week I want to share with you about a great office on campus that is commonly referred to as the best kept secret on campus. Through this office, you can meet many great people, help participate in exciting service projects, and help your community, among many other things. This office is the Center for Service, Leadership, Ethics, and Public Service, commonly referred to as CSLEPS. During my high school years, I participated in volunteer work; when coming to college, I wondered how I could continue this involvement. I never imagined there was an office on NCSU campus committed to helping our community by getting students involved and preparing them to be future ethical leaders.

My freshman year I participated in Service NC State, which was in collaboration with an organization named Stop Hunger Now. Students from NC State, neighboring colleges, and even some community members come together on the first Saturday after classes started to put together packaged meals to be sent across the world. In 2008, we packaged over a million meals in just a few hours. Everyone had such a wonderful time during the event, and it passed really quickly. It was amazing to see what can be accomplished in such a short amount of time.

Alternative Service Break trips are other great opportunities offered through CSLEPS. Trips are during Christmas break and spring break. There are international and domestic trips, including everything from helping Habitat for Humanity, alleviating health issues, and teaching English in various countries. Many different interests are involved, and students from all different majors participate. This past spring break, I went to the Dominican Republic on a health issues trip. I had an amazing time interacting with the local people and learning about their culture. We toured their hospital and taught health lessons in the schools. Everyone should take advantage of these trips because you can learn so much, especially about appreciating what you have.

Leadership training is another service offered by of this office. Many great presenters offer workshops on various aspects of leadership that CSLEPS has carefully selected. By attending these workshops and doing a portfolio of service, you can earn a certificate, which employers look upon highly. These workshops have allowed me to look at things in a new perspective.

This past year, I worked with CSLEPS as a Service-Leadership Consultant, planning events and helping lead service projects. We were ambassadors for CSLEPS and helped wherever we were needed. This year this group has been absolved, and paid internships have been put into place. A group of interns over various aspects of CSLEPS have been appointed, and they will form committees where you can get involved with your specific interest and the planning behind events.

There are so many opportunities through the CSLEPS office that I simply cannot describe them all to you here. To learn more, visit their website and see for yourself what all they have to offer. http://www.ncsu.edu/csleps/index.php

Clubs on Campus

2009-11-18T11:41:00.001-05:00

Fun people, free food, and good networking – that is what the Agribusiness/NAMA (National Agricultural Marketing Association) Club is all about!

An advantage of being a student in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at NC State is being given the opportunity to be involved in clubs. Just within CALS, there are over 44 different clubs and organizations students can choose from! Clubs differ not only in their meeting schedules, but also their overall purpose. This gives CALS students the opportunity to become involved in an area that truly interests them. However, the main purpose of CALS clubs is to challenge students scholastically, engage students in service events, and promote networking for possible internship and job opportunities.

One of the clubs I am involved in on campus is the Agribusiness/NAMA Club, the club for students studying Agricultural Business Management in the Department of Agriculture and Resource Economics. Here is an overview of what the club does: we meet every other Monday evening, there is free food served for all club members, we have at least one service event and one social event every semester, and we help with the Maola milk book at the State Fair (in the fall) as a fundraising event. We also have a professional within the agricultural industry speak about their job at every meeting, and we have an end of the semester banquet where we celebrate the successes of the semester.

The premier aspect of the club, in my opinion, is the opportunity to learn about different internship and job availabilities as we have different speakers at each club meeting. These speakers represent different aspects of the agribusiness industry. Through the networking that takes place between students and business representatives at our club meetings, it is very easy to obtain an internship; at the very least, we can obtain information about internship opportunities. Internships are key because they help a person to figure out if a specific career is ‘right’ for them. If all goes well during an internship, a job might be offered to the student once they graduate. To me, this sounds like a pretty good deal for college students!

However, the Agribusiness/NAMA Club is not the only club that promotes and focuses on networking in CALS. Explore the following website to see a complete listing of all the clubs CALS has to offer: http://harvest.cals.ncsu.edu/academic/index.cfm?pageID=395
This is just another reason, among the million, that I love being a student in CALS at NCSU!

What is CSI?

2009-11-10T09:35:00.000-05:00

As a student, you may have an occasional free minute to sit down and watch the infamous “CSI” television series. This show portrays Crime Scene Investigators as nicely dressed, perfectly-styled professionals who find imperative clues at first glance. When viewing this type of show, you have to remember that that is television drama, performed by Hollywood actors.

Well, what then is a CSI? A crime scene investigator plays many roles when solving a single crime. Many hours are dedicated to retrieving, recording, and testing forensic ballistics in all aspects of the crime. For instance, DNA takes at least a week to go through processing and data
recording. On the state level, cases are backed up to a year; this is due to the number of cases and the holds placed on those cases because more pertinent cases come through the system.

Specialists deal with certain aspects of a crime. One person is specially trained in the finger-print analysis unit, while another is specialized in guns. The task of a gun specialist is to compare and identify bullets from the crime scene to potentially match those bullets with a specific type of firearm. They use water chambers and cotton-lined ranges, as well as an indoor and outdoor firing range. They compare bullets left at the scene and firing pin impressions left on the shell casings with the marks on test-fired rounds in the crime lab. If the marks on the test bullet match, the weapon has been identified. This is based on the principle that no two guns leave the same marks on the ammunition. The bullet striations and firing pin impressions are as unique as our fingerprints! The specialist can also determine range, impact and type of bullet wounds, as well as calculate the distance of the shooter from the powder stain patterns on the target. Each specialist does his or her part, and then sends the information to the investigator in charge, after which he or she receives the next order of business. The specialists are never involved in the specific details of the cases.

So the next time you find yourself watching the infamous CSI series, just remember that cases are not solved so quickly or easily.

Academic Trips

2009-11-02T13:16:00.001-05:00

Hola! My name is Dustin Hart and I am a sophomore in Poultry Science. This week, I thought it would be fun to talk about school trips! Who doesn't love going somewhere instead of sitting inside of a classroom?

I recently took a class trip to visit Asheboro Zoological Park. My Avian Physiology class has been learning about avian behavior, so for our weekly lab, we took an all-day field trip to put our newly-learned skills into practice. At the zoo, my group decided to watch Chilean Flamingoes! We spent about two hours taking notes and utilizing the skills we had learned in the classroom as we watched our subjects. For the remainder of the day, we walked around looking at the rest of the animals at the zoo.

Needless to say, this was one of my favorite labs! We didn't just learn about how to study avian behavior, but we actually put it to use. Later we created an ethogram (a way to list avian behavior) as if we were actual researchers studying the Chilean Flamingo. We also created a 5-7 minute class presentation discussing our findings from the zoo.

Where else would you be able to get this kind of hands-on experience if not in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at NCSU?

Med School Bound

2009-10-23T10:33:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone! My name is Lacey Martin. I am a junior majoring in Biological Sciences with a Human Biology Concentration. I am hoping to attend medical school following my few, great years at NC State. To reach my goal, I take advantage of the Pre-Health resources CALS has to offer; but there is so much, I cannot possibly do it all, much less mention it all here!

The key to all these resources is the Health Professions Advising Center, or HealthPAC. This office provides advising, interview preparations, entrance exam preparation materials, information on professional schools and internships, and so much more. Personally, I'm in the HealthPAC office at least once every two weeks meeting friends, asking questions, or looking at materials.

I am also about to start the application process for medical school. One thing I know I will take advantage of is the NCSU Health Professions Committee Review process. The HealthPAC website has a portfolio system which allows students to upload activities and descriptions as they complete them. That way, you don't have to try to remember everything when the time comes to apply. Also, once you complete the Medical School application, you have the option of submitting it to the review committee. This committee examines all your information and writes a recommendation for you, which is then sent to the schools to which you are applying. This committee review is nationally recognized. Of course, you're not required to use this resource, but it is definitely a great option!

I am also a member of the Pre-Health Club. This club meets once per month and holds many different workshops, as well as hosts various speakers, all of which help the members prepare for applications, interviews, professional school, and our future careers in the medical field. The Pre-Health Club also holds many different service events throughout the year which members can take advantage of. In order to meet the needs of every member, the club is divided into ten different interests group. These groups include the Pre-Medical, Pre-Dental, Pre-Optometry, and Pre-Pharmacy groups, as well as many others. Each of these groups meets at a different time of the month. There are also two medical-related honor societies: Alpha Epsilon Delta (Pre-Medical) and Delta Delta Sigma (Pre-Dental). These societies also meet for workshops, service activities, and social events.

Right now, I am in a class called “BIO 295” on campus. This class meets on Tuesdays for 75 minutes. We have a wonderful Kaplan instructor who teaches us critical thinking skills that help on tests like the MCAT, PCAT, DAT, or OAT. These are the standardized tests you must take to get into professional school (sort of like your high school SAT). Also, for an amazingly low price we received a full set of brand-new, newly-revised Kaplan MCAT test preparation books! No other school in the area has this! The idea behind this course is that by beginning it as a freshman and continuing it every semester, you will have four full semesters of it completed by the time you take the test (usually in your junior year). This is the equivalent of a full preparation course. It is just spread over an extended period, which is much more preferable than cramming all of this information into just a few months before you take your exams!

I know all of these options can seem overwhelming, but keep in mind everything is optional. These are simply a few of the ways NC State and CALS helps prepare you for your next step after college. If you work hard and participate in these activities, you will get so much out of it -- not just another entry on your resume, but a lot of friends, support, and fun!
Lacey

For more info:
HealthPAC: http://harvest.cals.ncsu.edu/health_pac/
Pre-Health Club: http://clubs.ncsu.edu/premed/

Dining Options

2009-10-20T12:31:00.001-04:00

Eating Out-

NC State students have a wide variety of off campus food options. There are four well patronized eating locations within walking distance of campus: Hillsborough Street, Western Boulevard, Mission Valley Shopping Center, and Cameron Village.

Hillsborough Street (directly across from the NCSU library) offers students about 25 restaurant, bar, café, or deli options. There is a little something for every culture and palette, with Mexican, Greek/Mediterranean, Indian, American, Chinese, Japanese and Italian options ranging from casual to fine dining.

Western Boulevard (between Main and Centennial campus) is home to many well known convenience food options including McDonalds, Wendy’s, Bojangles, and Pizza Hut. A student favorite, Cookout (an all American hamburger and milkshake joint) is also located here.

Mission Valley Shopping Center (on the corner of Western Boulevard and Avent Ferry Road) is like Hillsborough Street in that it offers a broad selection of cultural food. Ethiopian, Oriental, and Mexican restaurants are among American delis, cafes, and bars.

Cameron Village (off of Oberlin Road, about 5 minutes driving from campus) is the longest walk from campus so students typically drive. The restaurants, amid local shops and boutiques, are convenient for lunch between shopping. The village’s reasonably priced American style bars and grilles make this location well known for its thriving nightlife, and the perfect spot for a date or a night out with friends.

Most of these restaurants offer discounts or daily specials for students. Coupons can be found in the Technician (our university newspaper) and at Talley Student Center.

Additional information on off campus eating:
http://www4.ncsu.edu/~misra/LieConf2005/foodguide.pdf

Eating In-

Students can also prepare their own meals. Food Lion (with Western Boulevard and Avent Ferry Road locations) is closest to campus. The Avent Ferry location is on NC State’s Wolfline bus route, which provides transportation for students without a vehicle. Harris Teeter (in Cameron Village) is also a popular option.

One of the most cost efficient and sustainable locations to purchase produce is the North Carolina Farmers Market (off of Lake Wheeler Road, about 5 minutes driving from campus). Local farmers sell fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs, meat, nuts, cheese, milk, bread, pastries and more. This semester, NC State University worked in collaboration with the NC Farmers Market to provide weekly markets on campus.

North Carolina Farmer’s Market website:
http://www.ncagr.gov/markets/facilities/markets/raleigh/index.htm

Hope this helps in choosing from NC State’s wealth of off campus food options. Happy eating!

-Erin Whitley

Off-Campus Medical Opportunities

2009-10-19T10:12:00.000-04:00

Medical School: many people want to attend, few are admitted. So, what can you do to set yourself apart? And what resources can you find in Raleigh to assist you in attaining that acceptance letter? Whether conducting research, shadowing, or volunteering, N.C. State is surrounded by numerous opportunities to not only strengthen your resume, but also allow students to attain the experience necessary for medical and other professional schools.

Research is one essential aspect of a CALS student’s experience: it emphasizes discovery-based instruction to students not attainable in lecture halls. Conveniently, N.C. State is located adjacent to Research Triangle Park. RTP harbors many honorary individuals, including recipients of the Nobel and Pulitzer Prizes, in addition to winners of the National Science Foundation Award and Presidential Award. Presently spanning 6,971 acres, Research Triangle Park is considered a “center of innovation.” This provides NC State students with an awesome (and convenient) opportunity to gain unique, discovery-based education through hands-on instruction.

If you are seeking shadowing experience or internships, NCSU is located a mere 4 miles from REX Hospital, and within 10 miles of WakeMed Hospital. If you want to branch out and experience individual practices, Raleigh is filled with fine facilities at which you can expand your outlook on medicine. I currently shadow an attending physician in WakeMed’s Emergency Department. The diversity of illnesses and interactions with patients I witness in just an eight hour day is amazing. Dr. Saad advises me to “doctor hop,” allowing me to not only observe a variety of patients but also a variety of physician’s diagnostic methods of treatment. Whether grabbing lunch with a doctor and discussing different aspects of medicine, or learning what to look for on a CT scan or X-ray, the physicians and faculty at WakeMed have significantly strengthened my knowledge of the medical field.

Volunteer opportunities in Raleigh are also very prevalent. There are countless organizations in need of assistance, and they are more than happy to receive help from N.C. State students. Students can discover and learn more about these volunteer opportunities through on-campus clubs, the CALS Career Services Office, and the CSLEPS (Center for Student Leadership, Ethics, and Public Service) website. These resources can all help you find the volunteer program that is right for you. I utilized the CSLEPS website and began volunteering at the medical clinic at Urban Ministries over a year ago.

So yes, the competition for acceptance to Medical School is tough. Fortunately, N.C. State and Raleigh have more resources than you can imagine, helping you create your own unique resume and compete with the very best applicants.

Pre-Vet

2009-10-05T11:44:00.001-04:00

Alright, so you think you want to be a vet “when you grow up.” First and foremost, understand that this is an extremely competitive field. There are only 28 vet schools in the nation, and there are plenty of students vying for these few admission seats every year. Don’t get discouraged though – just realize that becoming a vet requires a lot of passion and determination. If you think this is the area you’d like to go into for your career, start preparing NOW! Go talk to your local vet and ask them if you can volunteer. Shadow a large animal veterinarian in your area. And when you get to college, start animal-related research projects.

This is where CALS at NC State can help you. CALS faculty are constantly looking for undergraduate help in research projects. Though some of these projects may be unpaid, you can instead receive class credit in most situations. Personally, I became involved in research the summer before my freshman year, and have continued working in the lab ever since. I participated in the HHMI RISE Program, a 6-week summer research internship for incoming freshman, and began working in a poultry genomics lab on main campus in Scott Hall. Since then, I have presented three times at undergraduate research symposiums, and have even traveled to Australia to present my research at the 2008 World Poultry Congress.

But obviously research is not the only thing you need to focus on when it comes to building your resume for vet school; you also need to have a well-rounded body of veterinary and animal experience. This includes everything from assisting a large animal vet with restraint of a patient during an exam, to walking dogs for your neighbor. Just make sure you keep a log of how many hours you’re accumulating in each of your experiences – this will make applying to vet schools (and even filling out your resume) a much smoother process later!

When it comes to finding these fantastic internships, CALS Career Services is an invaluable resource. CALS is constantly sponsoring workshops to help guide you in your quest for internships, and networking events to help connect you with a professional who may be able to provide just that. The key here is that CALS Career Services is what you make of it. None of the events are mandatory; but of course, the more you participate, the more you will get out of them. So be proactive and take advantage of the resources made available to you! Coming this fall to CALS is an exciting new program called VET Pac! The program will reside in Riddick Hall, and will essentially be a mentoring program strictly for pre-veterinary-focused students. Faculty in the program will help students find internships, connect with local veterinarians, and most importantly, perfect those vet school applications!

My best advice is just to get out there and try things. Dabble in small animal medicine, give large animal practice a try, and even explore the field of exotic animal care. What is even more important than getting into vet school is making sure that being a veterinarian is really your dream career. And after all of that experience you decide you really do want to be a veterinarian, then you will already be well on your way!

University Scholars

2009-10-01T13:35:00.001-04:00

When I first heard about University Scholars, I thought it sounded like another program that would benefit me academically. My first impression has definitely proved to be true! The Scholars program requires you to take honors courses and attend lectures on a variety of different subjects. I was very excited to Scholars would provide me with the opportunity learn about topics of business, engineering, and the arts, as I am a Biological Sciences major and do not have much exposure to these topics otherwise. University Scholars has also made me a more informed person; because of the program, I now make reading the news part of my daily routine. What is more, the community and trips the program has provided me with have ended up being one my favorite things about my freshman year here at North Carolina State University. Because scholars offered free transportation and tickets, I was able to see professional productions in Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and Durham. I even participated in a weekend trip to Virginia to see a Shakespeare play. I was so impressed with how the program helped to broaden my perspectives.

Although all these experiences were amazing, my very favorite activity was the Fall Break Backpacking trip. University Scholars offers a few trips each semester with the Outdoor Leadership Series. Having never backpacked before, I thought it would be a great opportunity to try something different and meet new people. This four-day excursion ended up being one the best outdoor trips I have ever been on because of great friends, leadership building, and the beautiful scenery. It was a great break from being on campus, and I learned much about myself and about surviving outdoors.

University Scholars has been a fantastic program for me and I highly recommend it to anyone who interested in learning about the world and what it has to offer. So if you have ever wanted to learn a native African dance, or travel downtown to see an original play, scholars might just be the program for you!

Fun Things to Do On Campus

2009-09-30T11:56:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone! My name is Lauren Hysong and I am a senior in biological sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences here at NC State. As my roommates and I are getting ready for this weekend’s football game against Pittsburgh (Go Pack!!!), I wanted to take a moment to tell you about all of the fun things that go on around campus. As most of you know, it’s football season, which is a notably exciting time among State students. Home football games are a great time to hang out with friends, show your school spirit, and have a lot of free fun. And not long after the excitement of football season, NC State basketball games roll around. There’s nothing like seeing the RBC Center full of NC State fans cheering on our basketball team! And though football and basketball are the two most popular sporting events to attend on campus, NC State also has a wide variety of other ACC sports that have games on campus all the time. Soccer, volleyball, baseball, softball, tennis, gymnastics and wrestling are all excellent programs that win numerous ACC and national titles and always put on a great show for students. And did I mention it’s all free for students??

Not a big sports fan? That’s fine--Arts NC State has a wide variety of shows and performances all around campus. We just finished renovating Thompson Theatre, where numerous plays and shows are put on year-round. Center Stage brings in musicians from around the world to perform, and our Dance program puts on great shows! One of the most popular venues to attend is Stewart Theatre in Talley Student Center, where many acts perform, such as our famous male a capella group, The Grains of Time. They are great live, and I highly recommend seeing a show while you’re here! Movie fans can visit the Campus Cinema, where for just $1.50 you can see a movie not yet out on video without ever having to leave campus. They also put on free advanced screenings throughout the year so you can see movies before they hit theaters.

In addition, many clubs and organizations put on events all throughout the year. As a student at NC State, there is never a dull moment on campus. There are flyers out everywhere on campus for fun things that go on all the time! I for one can’t wait for the Women’s Center to put on their annual Chocolate Festival this October. As future students, I hope that you all take full advantage of all of the fun things that go on around here. See you at the football game!!!

A Day in the Life - Tailgate and Football

2009-09-22T12:25:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone, my name is Dave Overman and I am a junior majoring in Human Biology in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences here at N.C. State. Today I want to share with you my experience from this past weekend where I had the opportunity to attend the annual CALS Tailgate and afterwards attend an N.C. State Football game. I started my day at 8:00am when I met up with some of my fellow ambassadors at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds to set up for the Tailgate. Each year, our college chooses a Saturday with a home football game to invite all of the alumni, faculty, and current students out to have a great time tailgating and then we all go to the football game. This past Saturday morning, we spent much of our time getting Dorton Arena ready to host our tailgate. We blew up hundreds of balloons, set up all kinds of decorations, helped prepare the food, and set up display stations for some of the departments and student organizations within our college. After everything was prepared, it was time to have some fun.

Over the course of the afternoon leading up until the kickoff of the football game, we had thousands of people show up to celebrate our college with us. Numerous professors, alumni, current students, parents, distinguished faculty, and even Mrs. Wuff showed up to enjoy spending time together. Some of the activities that my friends and I got to experience at tailgate included face painting, enjoying a live band, getting some cool give-a-ways from the college, holding a snake and some crazy looking insects, homemade cookies, and seeing tons of friendly faces. We also got to eat a great lunch of good ole fashioned barbeque that was delicious! I had a BLAST at tailgate that afternoon hanging out with all of the people there.

After the tailgate was over, we walked over to Carter Finley Stadium where we got to spend the night watching our Wolfpack Football team play the Gardner Webb Bulldogs. We cheered, screamed, and celebrated as our team put on a show beating the Bulldogs. I’ve never experienced anything as exciting as a Wolfpack Football game. There is just something about atmosphere with the crowd, the students, the cheerleaders, the mascots, and the band playing the fight song. And we always close a game by putting our arms around each other in the student section and singing the Alma Mater. It is such an electric experience and one of my favorite parts about being a student at N.C. State. You get such a sense of unity by cheering on your school and showing your school pride together with your fellow students.

Well that is pretty much my experience from this past Saturday at the Tailgate and the football game. I had a blast hanging out with all of my friends at both events and I am looking forward to doing it again at the next game. GO PACK!

Diversity

2008-11-21T11:50:00.003-05:00

I can imagine an ideal university, a place where students, employees and scholars come together from different continents and states, different religions and political viewpoints, different races and classes. In this place, these differences are the source of curiosity and robust, respectful debate, not of division and alienation. The people of this place seek out and intellectually engage those who are different to help see their own thoughts more clearly.

North Carolina State University is committed to becoming such a place, one where diversity is not measured in numbers only but in the inclusive, welcoming, and stimulating climate we all experience as members of this community. NC State has made a pledge to make a difference. In this pledge, we have outlined our goals to aggressively recruit and retain a diverse complement of faculty and students and to promote engagement and understanding across all human boundaries.

Why does diversity matter to you as a prospective student?

The purpose of a university is to expose its students to the wide range of human experience to train their minds in creativity and flexibility. It is to ask challenging questions about the pressing needs of our time, and then seek answers through research and discussion. Neither of these things can happen in a world where people think the same way and reinforce each other’s preset opinions. Breakthrough moments of learning tend to come through the play of difference, when the clash of ideas produces new insight. Further, in our increasingly interconnected world, we as students
must be able to understand and collaborate across the many dimensions of difference – of race and ethnicity, income, religious affiliation, national culture, and many more – to succeed. Diversity makes our world a far more interesting place, and that’s a good enough reason for us here at
NC State to build this university as a place where difference isn’t just tolerated, but actively embraced.

NC State has made great progress in the past few years. In undergraduate admissions, we are drawing an increasing number of applications from under-represented U.S. groups and from overseas. We have increased the number of faculty of color in all fields, and of women in the fields where they have been underrepresented. However, we can do even better in creating an environment where all people listen and learn from each other and feel their voices are heard. I am positive that we can do more to help students engage with people who look or act or believe differently than they do, in daily experiences inside and outside the classroom. We can do more to invite people from all backgrounds and places around the globe into the Wolfpack community, and to retain their talent once it’s here--and we would like to start with you! Will you choose to join this
diversity initiative that is making an impact that can be heard around the world?

This is a hallmark of this institution. This is a commitment we have made as members of the Wolfpack family.
Posted by: John Campbell

Park Scholars Program

2008-11-19T12:30:00.005-05:00

Park Scholarships--more than a scholarship.
The Park Scholarship is an unparalleled opportunity to explore your intellect, individuality, leadership, and aspirations. It is the opportunity to discover what is true, right, and lasting through a combination of rigorous academics, altruistic service, and bold, real-world experience — and the challenge to manifest that discovery through a lifelong, principled commitment to self, others, and the world.

The Park Scholarship is made up of a strong community of peers — almost 200 undergraduate Scholars, who distinguish themselves through original thinking, enterprise, leadership, humility, and compassion. Enhancing this campus community is a supportive network of Park Scholarship Alumni — influential and successful women and men eager to mentor bright, young Scholars by offering advice, internships, and career opportunities. Through their generous commitment of time, talent, and financial resources, these Alumni invest in the success of every Scholar welcomed into the Park Program.

Rather than a reward for past achievement, the Park anticipates achievements yet to come with four years of tuition to North Carolina State University; an annual stipend covering all living expenses; encouragement and support from a staff that understands the demands of excellence; a laptop computer; four distinct enrichment programs that take you from the mountains of North Carolina where you build lasting relationship with your fellow Parks through team-building, to state and national destinations and rich experiences: investigating an issue that is of great importance to our state and then again an issue that is of national importance in Washington D.C., on Learning Lab I and Learning Lab II, respectively.
Free from financial constraints and afforded remarkable opportunities, Park Scholars can pursue our interests and ideals, transforming themselves from gifted high school students into self-aware young adults who understand that with great gifts come even greater responsibilities. We accept these responsibilities with pride and dignity. We embrace the challenge inherent in every Park Scholarship awarded.
Posted by: John Campbell

The Park Scholarships at NC State is funded by the Park Foundation in Ithaca, New York. It pays for your tuition, board, textbooks, and various other school related costs. A computer stipend is also included! The money and the stress it relieves is a great benefit; however, the Park Scholarship is more than just a “full ride.”
The Park experience encompasses different trips, seminars, and activities throughout your four years. Freshmen start their college experience by going on the Park Freshmen Retreat. At the retreat, you meet your Park class, learn about the program, and participate in teambuilding activities. Freshmen also meet weekly to hear various speakers from departments across campus.

In the spring, freshmen participate in “Freshmen Service.” Freshmen team up and work with a local non-profit agency throughout the semester. Learning Lab 1 is also held in the Spring. Your class decides on a current issue that affects North Carolina. The class then travels to a location that this issue is affecting. Past topics have included Sustainable Energy and Global Warming.
Sophomore year is defined by Learning Lab 2! This is similar to Learning Lab 1 only your class picks a topic that relates to a National issue. The group travels to Washington, D.C. to hear from top officials on your issue. Juniors attend Leadership Academy. This two-day event trains you about modern leadership techniques and theories. Finally, if you have survived the last three action-packed, mind-expanding years, Seniors attend Senior Retreat. The survivors travel to a National Park for a trip of self-reflection. Those are the “official” Park activities. The Park activities are wonderful; but, the bonds you make within your class extend well outside your events. Professors are also very receptive to Park scholars. I have heard some instructors say that when a Park is in their class, it seems as if the class goes up a level.

The Park Scholarship involves more time and commitments than other students may have to give for their financial support, but the rewards are far more than just “money for college”.
Posted by: Lacey Martin

Technology Support

2008-11-19T12:13:00.003-05:00

NC State has a tremendous amount of technology support.  When I moved in as a freshman, trained staff helped me connect my computer to NC State's high speed network and set up my software.  Throughout the semester these technology assistants are stationed in our campus computer labs.  They are available to answer any questions and keep the lab running smoothly. State also runs a technology support center out of the West Dunn Building.  I recently discovered the center when I detected a virus on my computer. Within 24 hours of dropping my computer off, it was returned as good as new.  This avoided the hassle of sending my computer back to the manufacturer and waiting weeks for it to be repaired.  I have found State's technology support to be friendly and effective.  They definitely save time, money, and my sanity.  :)

For more information about computer resources on campus for incoming students, please visit http://www.ncsu.edu/it/essentials/
Posted by: Erin Whitley

Campus Food

2008-10-01T16:24:00.009-04:00

There are several options for food on campus including the Atrium Food Court, Talley Student Center, Dining Halls, and Coffee Shops and Cafe's. All locations accept campus meal plans, board bucks (debit type system linked to your student ID card), credit/debit, or cash.

There are 3 dining halls on campus, mainly used by students living on campus: Fountain (west campus), Case (central campus), Clark (east campus). You may be surprised that the food in the dining hall is actually pretty good. I am not promising that you will like everything there, but there are tons of options from the salad bar, hot bar, food ordered from the grill, vegetarian/vegan options, to specialty bars like the fajita bar, pasta bar. The dining halls are open for breakfast, lunch, dinner throughout the week (7am-8:30pm), with "brunch" and dinner offered on the weekend (10:30am-8:00pm).

Atrium Food Court is located adjacent to the Brickyard and houses a Lil' Dino's Sub shop, Chik-fil-A, Toppers (salads/wraps/burgers/etc), Paisano's Pizzeria, and Freshen's Smoothie Company.

Talley Student Center houses Taco Bell, Lil' Dino's subs, and the Wolves Den (a sporty grill offering quick food in a relaxed environment).

Hill of Bean's Coffee Shop is in DH Hill Library, offering coffee/lattes/baked goods. Other cafe's and coffee shops are located across Centennial Campus and the Vet School campus.

More information available at http://www.ncsudining.com

Posted By: Justin Jornigan

Leadershape

2008-10-01T16:24:00.007-04:00

LeaderShape is a six-day-long summer leadership opportunity hosted by universities all across the nation. NC State has it's own chapter, providing sixty NC State students the opportunity to participate each year, free of charge. I participated in LeaderShape during the summer between my freshman and sophomore years, and it was one of the best decisions of my college life thus far. The people participating in the program are ambitious, energetic, amazing people, and the best part about it was that they are all your peers! So even though we all went our separate ways for the summer, once school started again in August, we would constantly see each other all over campus. I met a lot of truly great people because of LeaderShape, and because our interests are so different, it's unlikely we would have ever crossed paths on our own otherwise. This is the main reason I highly encourage everyone interested to participate in LeaderShape: it's one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, so take advantage of it while you can! For more information, you can visit the NC State CSLEPS office's website at: http://www.ncsu.edu/csleps/leadership/leadershape.htm.
Posted by: Tria Metzler

Transportation

2008-10-01T16:24:00.006-04:00

At NC State, you are eligible for a parking pass beginning your freshman year. Registration for parking permits takes place at the same time as class registration. With such a limited number of parking spaces on NCSU’s campus, it is important to remember that Campus Transportation takes many things into consideration when assigning permits. These include things like seniority (identification of the student as a freshmen, sophomore, junior, or senior), demographics of the student’s residence on campus, and whether or not the student is an off-campus commuter. With all these things considered, there are still many freshman who are awarded a parking permit their first year. These permits may be close to the student’s residence hall or more commonly, they may be in a storage lot. In addition to on-campus parking, NCSU offers Wolfline buses which run every day that classes are in session and serve all three campuses of NCSU, two park and ride lots, and all official NCSU housing. You can typically expect Wolfline buses to arrive at their designated stops every 15 minutes and they can get you to almost anywhere you would like to go on campus! The Wolfline also doubles as the Werewolf for night-time transportation and as the Red Terror Transit on game-day so that you can get to the stadium on time! In addition to car and/or Wolfline travel, many students choose to ride their motorcycles, bikes, or even skateboards to and around campus. I’ve found that NCSU is welcoming of almost any transportation you may consider as long as long as there is somewhere for you to park!
Posted by: Ashton Ayers

Greek Life

2008-10-01T16:23:00.007-04:00

On NC State's campus you will find different types of Greek Life. The most common is the social sororities and fraternities. There are four different councils with a social sorority or fraternity for every individual. Each council has their own type of rush to gain new members. To find out more information about the different councils and rush please check out the Greek Life webpage: www.ncsu.edu/greek_life

Right now our Greek Court is undergoing construction to make a new Greek Village. This new village will be similar in design to USC Columbia's Greek houses. The houses in the Greek Village are considered on campus housing and have access to the Wolfline, NC State's bus.

I have enjoyed my years in Alpha Delta Pi sorority because I have been able to participate in philanthropy events and gain leadership experience. My sisters have become my second family and I hope to continue with my sorority's opportunities after graduation!
Posted by: Beth Migliaccio

I became a member of Greek Life my first semester at NC State when I went through Formal Recruitment and joined Delta Zeta sorority. Greek Life is a wonderful way for students to get involved early on campus! There are four councils which are all a part of Greek Life; the Panhellenic Association, the Interfraternity Council, the National Pan-Hellenic Association, and the Collaborative Greek Council. For information on each council, visit the Greek Life website: http://www.ncsu.edu/greeklife/index.html. The four main pillars of Greek Life are brotherhood & sisterhood, service, leadership, and scholarship. Each organization truly encompasses each of these. By joining Greek life, you are given the chance to establish lasting friendships, as well as enhance your personal development through various outlets. Each individual organization has its own unique social events, rituals, traditions, and service and leadership opportunities. However, together Greek Life is just a group of students who all share common goals and interests.

My four years as a sister in Delta Zeta have definitely been amazing! Service events I have been a part of include, but are not limited to: Relay For Life, Service Raleigh, Service NC State, the Soup Kitchen, the NC Food Bank, volunteering at schools, Hoops for Hope, etc. Also, Delta Zeta, as well as all other organizations, has a national philanthropy in which we raise money for year round. Delta Zeta raises money for the hearing and speech impaired by hosting an annual male pageant called “Big Man On Campus”. Contestants wear an outfit that describes their personality, are interviewed on stage, and have to perform some sort of talent. The talents range from singing, doing an interpretive dance, or even trying to break the world record of chicken nugget eating! Because all organizations have service events like this throughout the year, it is easy to stay involved with each other’s philanthropic events. For leadership in my sorority I have held five chairman positions, including Alumnae Relations and Judicial Board President. Sisterhood is one of my favorite aspects of being in a sorority. I have met the most amazing women by being a part of Delta Zeta and have established the best friendships. Without being a member of Delta Zeta, and meeting the women I have, I would not be the person I am today. My sisters have always been there for me, and helped with my own personal growth and development. Finally, academics definitely remains an integral part of being in a Greek organization. Because all the organizations range in size, more than likely you will find people that are Greek in your classes, perhaps even friends from the same organization. For me, this was always helpful because you can automatically form those bonds and establish study groups. Since we are all students first, it’s easy to see that being successful in our classes is really important to ourselves as individuals and to Greek Life as a whole.
Posted by: Catherine Casey

Living Off Campus

2008-10-01T16:23:00.005-04:00

I highly recommend living on campus for at least your first year. The campus living experience will allow you to make connections with people around you and makes it easier to participate in student organizations to help establish yourself at State. I moved off campus after my first year at State. There are tons of apartments that cater to the university students in the Raleigh area. Many offer by-the-bed leases, which only holds you responsible for your room in an apartment in the event that your roommate(s) end their lease or fail to pay their rent. Most apartments range from 1-4 bedrooms, with costs generally decreasing per person with more roommates. Some locations offer roommate matching programs, and amenities such as swimming pools, exercise equipment, etc. Definitely visit an apartment complex and check around on the Internet for student housing options to find the right place for you.

Things to consider with living off campus: buying a parking permit for campus, bus routes nearby to get you to campus, food costs vs. meal plan, length of a lease and your plans for summer vacation. Always read the details of a lease and keep your parents involved, as they will probably be serving as a co-signor for your apartment or townhouse.

Posted by Justin Jornigan

Alternative Spring Break

2008-10-01T16:22:00.013-04:00

This past spring break I had the opportunity to work for Habitat for Humanity in the Dominican Republic. This was an opportunity that all students have and is coordinated by NC state's Center for Student Leadership Ethics and Public Service (CSLEPS) office. The trip was an awesome experience that I shared with 15 other NC State students. We helped build houses, volunteered at a local school, and experience a new culture through it's people. Most people on the trip had never traveled abroad but the program meetings start months before the trip and helps students prepare for the trip. They also have fundraisers and scholarships so that anyone can go regardless of finances. This a great experience that I recommend to everyone, especially students who don't want to study abroad for an entire semester but want traveling abroad experiences.
Posted by: Julie Stainback

For Spring Break my Junior year, I had the opportunity to travel to Guatemala for Alternative Spring Break. The focus of our trip was health care advocacy. We took with us twenty suitcases full of medical supplies which we delivered to a small village clinic in the Peten region of Guatemala. While in the same area, we had the chance to go on a jungle walk with a local herbal medicine woman who explained how they used plants, herbs, and seeds for healing. We also visited the ancient Mayan Ruins of Tikal. The latter part of our trip was spent in Antigua where we volunteered at a local hospital working with handicapped children and adults. We also spent many evenings experiencing the various other cultural aspects of the country. This experience has been one of the most rewarding things I have done in college. It was my first time out of the country and my first taste of Latin American culture. I highly recommend the Alternative Spring Break program to everyone because it was truly life changing for me.
Posted by: Catherine Casey

Study Abroad

2008-10-01T16:22:00.011-04:00

I spent Summer 2008 in Queensland, Australia. The study abroad experience was by far the most enjoyable thing I have done in my life. The focus of the trip was Animal & Veterinary Studies as well as Australian Studies. We spent a lot of time outdoors, observing animal wildlife, production systems, and environmental issues. We also spent time in the classroom getting an overview of animal agriculture in Australia and learning about art, history, and sociological similarities and differences between the USA and Australia. The experience challenged my stance on issues, and allowed me to witness firsthand how a different country views America. It will truly enhance your college experience and I recommend giving Study Abroad some thought. The Study Abroad Office will help you find ways of funding your trip and assist you with the details of your program. You may be able to study for a semester in a foreign country while paying NCSU tuition. The opportunities are endless, but the choice to take advantage of them is yours! http://studyabroad.ncsu.edu
Posted by: Justin Jornigan

Coming from a Small Town

2008-10-01T16:22:00.010-04:00

I come from a very rural hometown in central NC with only a few thousand people. I was very worried that NC State was going to be completely overwhelming and too large to actually know anyone or for the faculty to know me.
After the first week of classes, I had at least one professor in the Animal Science department know my name. It was not what I had expected and it just kept getting better. I soon found out that there were over 30,000 students on campus, but it wasn’t as large and easy to get lost in as I had originally thought. I began to meet people whom I had multiple classes with. It felt like a little piece of home in a large research institution. It was great to realize that everyone can find a niche on campus and have a home away from home!
Posted by: Holly Ramey

Leaving a small town and coming to NC State can be very daunting. I was worried that I would never be able to find my way around such a large campus, not to mention a large city such as Raleigh. Fortunately, everyone here at NC State was very helpful. Upperclassmen and faculty are more than willing to help you figure out where your classes are, what room they are located in, and how best to get from your dorm to class. Entering a university where there are 32,000 students can feel like you’ll get lost in the crowds. However, CALS truly has a small school feel. You’ll find that you share a lot of the same classes as other CALS students, especially in your first two years as you complete your general education requirements. As you get to know these students, you’ll begin to form your own little “home” on campus you feel comfortable in.
Posted by: Lauren Hysong

Out of State Students

2008-10-01T16:22:00.008-04:00

Coming to North Carolina from New Jersey was quite an adjustment for me. Here are a few things that I found NC to be different:
- BBQ is not hamburgers and hot dogs; it is a pig.
- They love their grease here so be careful indulging if you are not used to fried food
- There is no hurry in the south; Northeast drivers have to slow down
- People here are incredibly nice!

Getting around is easy too even if you do not bring a car. There are numerous cab companies and easy access to Raleigh buses. NC State pays for NCSU students to use the Raleigh transit buses for free. Also, there is a train station a few miles East of campus and RDU Airport is about a 15 minute drive west.

Posted by: Beth Migliaccio

Double Majors

2008-10-01T16:21:00.011-04:00

I am a double major in Poultry and Animal Science. I found that there were many class requirement that overlapped between the Poultry and Animal Science curriculum. These fields are similar and will help to make many job opportunities available. Becoming a double major has allowed me to network with faculty and staff within both departments. I have also been able to participate in clubs and extracurricular activities within both majors. Since both of these fields are of interest to me, I am able to fulfill two of my long term goals. It will take me 4 1/2 years to receive my bachelors degree but I feel it is well worth it. I will have vast amounts of opportunity made available to me because I am double majoring. I would recommend that if you are interested in two different curriculums that you do your research and talk to your advisor. If you feel that a double major will be beneficial for you, puruse it! I am so glad I made the decision to double major.
Posted by: Jessica Nixon

College Classes

2008-10-01T16:21:00.008-04:00

College courses differ greatly from high school classes. You may be in class from 1-4 days during the week and the number of grades or assignments is significantly lower than high school. In a typical NC State classroom, you may have occasional homework assignments or quizzes (either written or submitted online), 3-4 tests, a midterm, and a final exam. Exams may be cumulative or only on material covered from the previous exam. All of these factors are up to the instructor. You will receive a syllabus for each class during the first week of school that will explain the components of your final grade (percentages of tests, quizzes, final exam, etc).

Courses at NC State require that you do a great deal of time preparing outside of the classroom, whether in the form of studying nightly, or reading material to be discussed in the next class session. Attendance is crucial to your success in NC State courses. Tests generally consist of at least some short answer and/or essay questions, possibly mixed with multiple-choice questions covering material from lecture and from the text.

Unlike high school, you do not have the same class each day of the week. You will register for classes using an online system and can choose from classes that the university offers at different times. Most courses are held through the day (8am-5pm) with a select few courses and labs offered in the evening until 10pm. Here is a general layout of class schedules:

Monday, Wednesday, Friday Classes
These are generally 3 or 4 credit hour courses and meet for 50 minutes each session. In laboratory-based classes, like a Chemistry or Biology course, there will be one day of the week in addition to lecture that you meet for lab, which is usually 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Tuesday and Thursday Classes
These classes are generally 3 credit hours and meet for 75 minutes each session.

Not all courses follow this set up, some meet one night per week for 165 minutes (some 3 credit hour courses), some 2 days per week for 50 minutes (such as a 1 credit Physical Education course), and some for one day per week for 50 minutes (such as an introductory to the college course).
Posted by Justin Jornigan

Getting a Minor

2008-10-01T16:21:00.006-04:00

Coming to a large university like NC State, it’s easy to find a lot of things you are interested in, and declaring a minor is a great way to explore these interests. Most minors only require approximately 18 credit hours or fewer, and are an excellent way to get a well-rounded education. The NC State website has a great link that outlines all of the minors and who to contact about your minor of interest: http://www.ncsu.edu/advising_central/minors.html. Once you decide on a minor you’d like to declare, all you need to do is set up a time to see that minor’s contact person, and they will help you declare your minor!
Posted by: Lauren Hysong

Minors are a great way to focus your interests here at State. With correct planning you can gain a minor and still be able to graduate on time. You can minor within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences or outside in a different college, such as the College of Humanities. There is no limit to the amount of minors you can receive. Each minor requires a certain set of additional classes, some minors more than others. Talking with your advisor can help you correlate your classes.
Posted by: Karen Payne

Examples of Campus Clubs

2008-10-01T16:20:00.012-04:00

As a freshman, I wanted to get more involved around campus, but wasn't really sure how to begin. Then, during my first week of school, I saw flyers and chalking all over campus advertising various club meetings, so I thought I would give a couple of them a try. I ended up joining the Pre-vet Club, the Zoology Club, and the Companion Animal Club, which were all very applicable to my pre-veterinary interests. By joining these clubs, I met students with the same interests; I met other students from my classes, and they became great people to study with, while the upperclassmen in the clubs had great advice for my next four years at State. The clubs also coordinated a lot of fun activities that allowed me to get more involved around campus, as well as the community, all of which really helped me find my niche at NC State!

CALS Clubs & Organizations
Student Organization Resource Center

Posted by: Tria Metzler

Pre-Vet

2008-10-01T16:20:00.011-04:00

NC State provides an excellent pre-vet program for undergraduates. It is a great opportunity to be able to have a pre-vet oriented major so that you can receive a four year BS degree and meet the requirements to apply for vet school. My major is Animal Science, a popular choice for pre-vet undergrads. I get the chance to earn my degree, take pre-vet classes, and get hands-on lab experience all at the same time. It is also great that NCSU has a vet school and that obtaining your undergraduate degree here is a way to connect with the vet school through various outlets, including doing research on the vet school’s campus.
Posted by: Holly Ramey

NCSU's School of Veterinary Medicine is ranked in the top five of the nation's 28 veterinary colleges by U.S. News and World Report. Naturally, this draws in quite a few undergraduates interested in a career in veterinary medicine. While NC State does not have an official "pre-vet" major, students interested in pursuing veterinary medicine commonly major in Animal Science, Zoology, and Biological Sciences, amongst many others. Because there are so many students interested in this career path, the students and faculty combined form an invaluable and readily-available resource: there are a variety of clubs providing opportunities for students to network and connect with their peers, as well as faculty involved in a wide variety of interests, such as animal nutrition, reproduction, genetics, etc. There are also opportunities to get involved with the veterinary school directly as an undergraduate, such as research positions, etc.
Posted by: Tria Metzler

Just a tid bit from NC State's Vet School....the most popular undergraduate degrees of vet students are Biology, Animal Science, Chemistry, and Zoology. Veterinary schools do not require a certain undergraduate degree for admission; you simply must take all of the pre-requisite courses the school requires for admission.

A common question from pre-vet students is how are Animal Science and Zoology different? Animal Science has two concentrations, industry or science. As a pre-vet student you would choose science (SAS-Science Animal Science). Animal Science focuses on domesticated animals, primarily the farm animals, but also offers courses related to companion animals (cats/dogs/horses/exotics). The farm animals are the animals that humans know the most about, so the knowledge you gain from a degree in Animal Science can be applied to any species you may encounter as a veterinarian. The laboratory portion of most Animal Science classes is held on NC State's research farms located near campus. Animal Science is all about hands-on experience. In addition, you'll still receive a science-heavy education. Biology, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics, Microbiology are all included in the degree.

Zoology is a traditional science degree and focuses on the entire animal kingdom. You will not be physically working with domesticated animals with this degree. Most labs are held in traditional laboratories and focus on lab technique and species that can be contained to the lab setting. Zoology also incorporates the same traditional science courses as Animal Science (Biology, Chemistry...etc). It completely depends on your preferences as to which major to choose, as both degrees provide a strong focus on the sciences that will help you succeed as veterinarian.

What can I do with a major in Animal Science?
Animal Science Sample Layout of Courses
What can I do with a major in Zoology?
Zoology Sample Layout of Courses

Posted by: Justin Jornigan

Pre-Health Interests

2008-10-01T16:19:00.009-04:00

Many students in CALS choose to be in the life-sciences portion of the college and out of this group, a large number of them want to go on to a professional career in some type of health field. If you fit this mold then you may be interested in finding out more about pre-health opportunities at NC Sate

CALS offers the Health Professionals Advising Center also known asHealth PAC on campus. This is an advising center with professionals who are dedication to helping you go on to whichever health career you may choose. They will help you build your resume, get involved with shadowing and volunteer experiences that relate directly to the career that you plan on pursuing, developing your application, writing a personal statement, and passing any tests that are associated with that
career (ex. the MCAT for med students). This advising center also has a website that you can visit to get started with all of this material at cals.ncsu.edu/health_pac.

Aside from that you can also get involved with the pre-health club which is a student led organization filled with all pre-professionals. They meet twice a month and assist each other with becomingprofessionals. They are divided into interest groups that represent each specialty in the health field: pre-nursing, pre-medical, pre-dental, pre-optometry, pre-pharmacy, etc.

Becoming a health professional is a tough and stressful job, but with the right help you can do it quite easily
Posted by: Ashley Porter

I have pre-health interests and have taken advantage of Health-PAC, an office and organization aimed at helping students apply to health professional school as well as enhance their applications. Once you sign-up to be on the listerv, they will e-mail you several times a week about local opportunities to work or volunteer within the realm of health and medicine. It is a great resource, and they include two wonderful advisors who can help you get started with your health profession pursuit.
Posted by: Natalie Umesi

Campus Resources

2008-10-01T16:19:00.008-04:00

NC State has many things to offer students and resources for them to use. As a student I really like the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences having a separate Career Services Center unique to us. It is great to have a way to post your resume online and have it active for internship and job opportunities. They also are there to help with career decisions and practice interviewing for jobs, internships, or professional and graduate schools.

The Student Health Center is also a great thing to have in case you get sick while you live in the dorm. It is only a few steps away and it provides great care for students. I have been sick a few times and was not able to go home to my doctor. The student health center gave me a great option to go in and see a doctor. You can also stop by and get supplies from the pharmacy. It also has a counseling center so if you have a problem or need to talk to someone, they are there to help.

I also really like the campus safety here. I feel like they are really there to help and aid students at night through their blue light system and safety escorts.

The library is also a great place to go for research. I have spent time in the book stacks doing research, writing papers and studying. It has a coffee shop for those late nights and many different areas to study in. There are quiet spots, hang out spots, video games, comfortable chairs and a modern look. Being able to rent a laptop or iPod is great when I have a few hours to stop in the library to study and I forgot my iPod or don’t want to carry my computer. Searching the catalog and databases online are also a great opportunity with the NCSU library; you can search journals in the quiet of your room or apartment.
Posted by: Holly Ramey

NC State has a tremendous amount of technology support.  When I moved in as a freshman, trained staff helped me connect my computer to NC State's high speed network and set up my software.  Throughout the semester these technology assistants are stationed in our campus computer labs.  They are available to answer any questions and keep the lab running smoothly. State also runs a technology support center out of the West Dunn Building.  I recently discovered the center when I detected a virus on my computer. Within 24 hours of dropping my computer off, it was returned as good as new.  This avoided the hassle of sending my computer back to the manufacturer and waiting weeks for it to be repaired.  I have found State's technology support to be friendly and effective.  They definitely save time, money, and my sanity.  :)

For more information about computer resources on campus for incoming students, please visit http://www.ncsu.edu/it/essentials/
Posted by: Erin Whitley

On Campus Jobs

2008-10-01T16:18:00.006-04:00

I am currently a senior and have had an on campus job as a lab assistant for the past three years. I decided not to have a job freshman year because transitioning to college life is so important and I wanted to have time to meet new people and become involved on campus. Having an on campus job has been great for me because they understand that I am a student first and that my job comes second. I work flexible hours and my supervisor allows me to miss work if I have a big class project or a meeting to attend. It's also very convenient and I can work between class breaks or right after class and I don't have to worry about driving to an off campus location. My advice is to take the first year off and become involved and if you want experience or need a job for financial reasons later then try to find an on campus job before looking elsewhere.
Posted by: Julie Stainback

Campus Recreation

2008-10-01T16:18:00.005-04:00

A few things I’ve learned about Campus Recreation:

Campus Recreation is awesome!!
You sign up with them if you want to play any club or intramural sport.
They offer Group Fitness classes ranging from yoga to water aerobics. These classes are FREE to all NC State students, faculty, and gym members.
Personal trainers and massage sessions are available. The trainers are upbeat, highly trained, and want to help you achieve your fitness goals. The masseuse is wonderful, and really believes in a holistic approach to health. He has even helped me deepen into some of my yoga postures!
Outdoor Adventures offers Trips, Workshops, and Clinics covering a wide variety of topics. This past Spring Break I traveled with the group to Moab, Utah and spent the week mountain biking, hiking, and rock climbing. I learned so many life skills on the trip. My favorite lesson was learning to eat oatmeal directly from the packet. That way we didn’t have to do dishes! Outdoor Adventures also rents out camping equipment, canoes, and kayaks for very cheap prices!
Many people know we have a rock wall, but have no idea where it is. Walk up the ramp from Cates Avenue into the old part of the gym. Go past the front desk, and head straight to the basketball court door on your right. Walk through the basketball courts all the way to the back wall. This is the rock wall. They have all the equipment you need, but you might want to bring a friend to belay you.
The old building is the Carmichael Gym; the new building is the Carmichael Recreation Center. The Recreation Center has three floors. Floor one houses Outdoor Adventures and several meeting rooms. Floor two is Group Fitness, Personal Training, and Massage Therapy. Floor three is where some of the cardio equipment and weight machines are located. The Gym stays open later than the Recreation Center, hours being shorter on the weekends. To save some confusion, check the hours online.
Campus Recreation offers many student job opportunities. The hours are flexible, and the location is very convenient. If you are interested in a job, you should attend a job fair to meet with employers. The next step is an interview, but it’s not scary at all because current student employees run the interviews. I am going into my second year as a Group Fitness instructor, and work with Outdoor Adventures as a student trip leader. I feel like I am paid to do what I love in a fun learning atmosphere.

Posted by: Erin Whitley

Undergraduate Research

2008-10-01T16:17:00.008-04:00

One of the benefits of attending a Research I institution is all of the opportunities for students to participate in undergraduate research. Most professors on campus are also involved in research, so it’s not difficult to find a faculty member doing research in your area of interest, and most are happy to talk to you about getting involved in their work. I encourage you to talk to your advisor and past professors if you are interested in their subject matter. Also, don’t forget about the NC State undergraduate research website: http://www.ncsu.edu/undergrad-research/. The people in the undergraduate research office are really helpful. They can talk to you about getting grants to fund your research, information about research symposiums, and how to get started with your research.
Posted by: Lauren Hysong

When applying to NC State, I never realized how many opportunities are available for students to be involved in undergraduate research. I began working in an on-campus poultry genomics lab my freshman year, and while the lab experience was definitely invaluable, what I truly benefited from was the networking I developed. I continued working in the lab every semester, as well as full time through the summer after my freshman year, and the experience led to two awesome, animal-related summer internships, a trip to Brisbane, Australia to present my research at a conference, and numerous undergraduate research awards and class credit. The great part is that most professors at NC State have one (or multiple) on-going research projects, and can always use undergraduates to help them. So often times, finding a lab to work in can be as simple as approaching your professor! We also have an Office of Undergraduate Research, where the staff can help you with everything from finding summer internship to applying for research scholarships, or even graduate school.
Posted by: Tria Metzler

Undergraduate Teaching Assistant

2008-10-01T16:17:00.007-04:00

Coming to NC State, I never realized how important Teaching Assistants were to your class experience. In CALS, you will take a lot of labs, most of which are taught by graduate Teaching Assistants or undergraduate students who have taken and done well in that class before. TAs are great resources, many are more than willing to help you if you are having trouble with class material.
Posted by: Lauren Hysong

Students can become undergraduate teaching assistants by talking with the professor after completing the course. I am now a TA for an introductory biochemistry class and am also completing my honors project through my teaching experience. As a TA, I am required to teach a problem session and grade quizzes and exams. It is a great opportunity for me to work closely with a faculty member and stay on top of the material.
Posted by: Beth Migliaccio

Getting Involved

2008-10-01T16:16:00.006-04:00

Getting involved on NC State campus is one of the easiest things you will ever do during your college career. The opportunities are EVERYWHERE!! The easiest way to get involved is to talk to your advisor about opportunities on campus that relate to your interest. If you are interested in animals ask your advisors what kind of clubs, research opportunities, jobs etc.. may be available on campus. Chances are they will tell you to look at NC State's job listings online for job opportunities which can be found at:
http://www7.acs.ncsu.edu/student_jobs/selectjobs.html
or to look at the fliers posted all around campus that are constantly offering new job listings. They also may tell you to check the Technician (the NC State Student Newspaper) which always posts a help wanted section with current jobs.

There are more than 40 different clubs and organizations in CALS which are related to different specific interests. A list of these along with more information about each one can be found
at:
http://harvest.cals.ncsu.edu/academic/index.cfm?pageID=596

For research opportunities it is always a good idea to talk to the professors that you have in the classes that you may be interested in doing research for. If you haven't taken a class or are not going to take a class on the area of interest that you plan on doing research for then look up the professor involved with that research on NCSU's website and contact them about getting involved with research in that field. Aside from these three options there are a wide variety of other opportunities to get involved on the NCSU campus. You can be a Teaching Assistant for a class, you can work for the tutorial center, you can get involved with a sports team, you can be a member of student government or you can be a CALS Ambassador!! Whatever you may choose, do choose to get involved. You will never regret that decision and it will make your experience here at NC State more rewarding and fulfilling.
Posted by: Ashley Porter

Coming to a big school and not knowing very many people in my department was scary. The best thing I did was to "Get Involved." First, I started attending departmental club meetings. This was great because not only did I meet other students my age, but I also met upperclassmen and professors. Later, I became an officer which allowed me to work closer with officers from other departments' clubs and their professors. Now I have friends that are older and have already taken the classes that I am in now and can help when I have questions. I believe that getting involved on campus is
very beneficial!
Posted by: Natalie Gurkin

Living and Learning Communities

2008-10-01T16:16:00.004-04:00

I lived in the University Honors Program Village my freshman year. It allowed me to have mentors and roommates in my program living right beside me. This helped me transition to life on a large campus and understand the Honors Program. By living in the village, I was able to receive perks such as attending guest lectures and special programs. However, it is not a requirement to live in the village to be apart of the program.
Posted by: Beth Migliaccio

Campus Safety

2008-10-01T16:15:00.003-04:00

Although NC State is a safe campus for students, it is a public campus. If you don't have a car or don't want to drive to a destination within campus (because of the limited parking), it is a good idea to use Campus Escort services at night. You simply call Campus Police at 515-3000, and request a ride. The Campus Escort will pick you up at your current location and will deliver you to your destination (sometimes they will walk with you, other times they will have a golf cart to take you, and even sometimes they will pick you up in a comfortable SUV). It is always a good idea to take safety precautions, even if it is only a ten-minute walk. This service is available at all times of the day and night, and is a great resource for you and your friends when traveling within the campus at night.
Posted by: Natalie Umesi

NC State works very hard at keeping the university and its campus safe at all times. Police officers are always on duty and may be reached for:
Non-Emergency: 919.515.3000
Emergency: 911
Blue Emergency Lights:
NC State is equipped with blue emergency lights all throughout campus. You are able to see a blue light from every blue light that you are standing at. There is a button in which you push that will immediately dial campus police. This can be used to call a safety escort and of course for any emergency that might occur.
Safety Escorts:
In conjunction with University Housing, Campus Police provide a campus safety escorts which are used to protect faculty and students in the dark hours of night. This allows for a safe and reliable way to come back from an area on campus and be delivered to your residence hall or car. Campus Escorts can be requested by using the Blue Emergency Lights phone or by calling 919. 515. 3000.
Safety Escorts are a great way to travel back from Greek Court, Varsity Parking Lot, or academic buildings after you leave a late night class
Wolf Alert:
As a response to the Virginia Tech incident, NC State has installed a Wolf Alert system. If a large scale emergency is occurring on campus, an audible alert system is issued. This system is loud enough to be heard while you are on campus. It will provide information about what is occurring and what you need to do to be safe. In addition, students are highly suggested to sign up for the text message system. Wolf alert will also send information via text message to alert you where to go. Students can sign up for text message Wolf Alert in the My Pack Portal, your online access system.
Posted by: Ginger Edwardsen

University Housing

2008-10-01T16:14:00.008-04:00

You can apply to University Housing once you have been accepted to NC State University. You will be sent an information packet informing you of all of your options for residence hall, including villages that are associated with the buildings. There are three main areas of campus:

Central: These residence halls are very centrally located. They are located right next to the free expression tunnel which is the pathway that will take you to the majority of your classes. Freshmen tend to live on central campus. Tucker and Owen house the First Year College Program students. Turlington houses the Arts Village and Alexander houses the Global Village. All of these buildings are hall style. Bowen, Metcalf and Carroll are all together known as the Tri-towers and they are suite style.

West: West Campus holds three residence halls: Bragaw, Lee and Sullivan. Sullivan is where the Scholars Village is and Lee is where Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) and Students Advocating for Youth (SAY) students are housed. Lee and Sullivan are both suite style and consist of mostly freshman and sophomores. Bragaw is in the shape of an X and hosts mostly sophomores, but all classes are welcome in all three buildings.

East: East Campus hosts the most residence halls out of all the campuses at NC State. These include Wood, Bagwell, Becton, Berry, Gold, Syme, Watauga, North, Welch, and Avent Ferry. Bagwell, Becton and Berry are a part of the quad-Bagwell is home to the University Honors Village. Avent Ferry is located on the corner of Avent Ferry and Western Blvd. North Hall is located on Hillsborough St. across from Caldwell academic building. Gold is an all male residence hall and Welch is an all female residence hall.

Campus Apartments: There are three campus apartment options: Wolf Village, Western Manor and E.S. King Village. Wolf Village is NC State’s on-campus apartments. You must be 20 in order to live in this area, so it is reserved mostly for juniors and seniors. It has entrances via campus on Sullivan Dr. and off campus via Gorman St. and Western Blvd. Each unit includes full-sized beds, two full bathrooms, a living room, kitchen with microwave, stove, and refrigerator, a washer/dryer, and ceiling fans. Western Manor is located off of Avent Ferry and is located across from Centennial Campus. Western Manor is a quiet, academic oriented apartment complex serving the needs of upperclassmen and NC State faculty and staff. E.S. King Village is an apartment community that serves NC State's married, graduate and non-traditional undergraduate population. E.S. King Village is available to juniors, seniors, graduate students, students with families, post-doctoral students, visiting faculty and scholars.

For more information on housing options please visit: http://ncsu.edu/housing
Posted by: Ginger Edwardsen

Living on Campus

2008-10-01T16:14:00.007-04:00

Living on campus is not a requirement at NC State however, I would HIGHLY suggest it. When you live on campus, you have connections to resources and events that you might miss if you were living on campus. It provides you with opportunities to get involved on campus as well as interact and meet new people that may potentially become you lifelong friends. Living on campus also teaches you to live and learn with someone else. This is a huge adjustment since most people do not share their room with anyone at home. It teaches you to be respectful of others property and the value of compromise and adjustment. Events happen on campus everyday of the week throughout the entire academic year. Living on campus, you have easy access to these activities and you are more informed about the information and resources that are available to you. Most freshmen do live on campus and have a wonderful experience of becoming adapted and feeling like they are a part of the university. Many sophomores also decide to return to live on campus do to their experiences that living on NC State’s campus has given them. My years of living on campus have been very rewarding and each year I have found something new and wonderful with being so connected to the university life.
Posted by: Ginger Edwardsen

The Role of a Resident Advisors (RA)

2008-10-01T16:14:00.006-04:00

When I first decided to live on campus and stay in a residence hall, I kept hearing this term “Resident Advisor” or “RA.” My mind automatically concluded that this was some older student that was there to enforce rules and walked around writing people up. But, goodness, I was way off!
I’m currently employed by NC State as a RA and RAs are much more then policy enforcers and in reality, this is the smallest portion of the job. As an RA, we attend extensive training in the summer and winter breaks to ensure we have the lasted and most up to date information pertaining to policies and resources at NC State. Our goals are to help each student successfully transition to living on-campus and succeeding in college. RAs accomplish this goal through a variety of methods. One of these is putting on hall programs. Programs are events geared specifically towards residents and can include things like discovering campus resources, challenging and growing personally and professionally, expanding viewpoints and educations, or simply getting together and having social outings.
RAs are also full of valuable information that they love to give out! We are constantly receiving posters to hang up and e-mails full of opportunities to share with the members of our building. Connecting with you RA is a wonderful way to find out how to get involved and keep up to date with campus activities. In accordance with this, as an RA, it’s really important to get to know each resident and create a community among the hall and students. We want everyone to have a positive experience and create lasting friendships and memories!
One of the more serious aspects of the RA job pertains to emergency situations and procedures. When crisis occurs, RAs are the first ones to respond in the halls and can give instructions on the proper procedures to follow. They are also there when small personal crisis happens, such a roommate conflicts. And unfortunately, RAs do have to fit the mold and be sure that the University Housing policies are being followed and respected. The policies ensure that everyone is having a safe environment and we want to ensure that happens.
As you begin transitioning to college life, take the time to meet your RA and find out how they can personally help you! We really are a great resource and would love to be of assistance in any way!
Posted by: Stephanie Connor

Food Animal Scholars

2008-10-01T16:13:00.003-04:00

I am a Food Animal Scholar at NCSU and plan to enter veterinary school in Fall 2009. In regards to species, I am interested in bovine, but my general interests are herd/flock health management, and epidemiology of diseases that affect or may potentially affect animal agriculture. The Food Animal Scholars program is for students majoring in Animal Science of Poultry Science that have an interest in food-animal agriculture and Veterinary Medicine.
Quick Facts:
-Students apply to this program during their junior year.
-Six scholars (and 2 alternates) are accepted each year and enter the “Food Animal Scholars Pool”. One seat is reserved for poultry, one for swine, one for a student from NC A&T University, and the remaining seats are available for any food animal species.
-Students who meet the minimum GPA requirement at the time of application to veterinary school (Fall of senior year), will be reviewed by the admissions committee and accepted to the College of Veterinary Medicine at NCSU as a Food Animal Scholar.
-Students still have to complete the supplemental application and the VMCAS Application (Veterinary Medical College Application Service).
-Students are also assigned an advisor at the College of Veterinary Medicine and will meet with the advisor each semester prior to entering veterinary school.
For application and full details, visit the FAS Website.

I would love to answer any questions you may have about my experiences or the program.
Posted by: Justin Jornigan

Honors Fraternities

2008-10-01T16:12:00.003-04:00

Joining an honors fraternity is an excellent way to form lasting friendships and get involved in the campus community. Fraternities are founded on core principles such as scholarship, leadership, service, character, fellowship. Furthermore, some honors fraternities have a particular focus such as agriculture or textiles, engineering, or business. Most honors fraternities are national organizations with chapters located on campuses across the nation. They provide opportunities to enhance your college experience and beyond. Many fraternities have national conferences, allowing you to travel and network with other members of the fraternity all around the country. Most have a new member education period or "pledge" period each semester. Usually there are GPA requirements for eligibility to join, and most honors fraternities contact you by email or snail-mail to inform you of your eligibility and dates to "rush". Rush simply is an opportunity to meet the members, learn about the organization, and see if you think you may be interested in joining. Some honors fraternities are co-ed, while others may be restricted to a certain sex.

Check out the Student Organization Resource Center for more information.
For honors fraternities within CALS, click here.

Posted by: Justin Jornigan

Howard Hughes Undergraduate Research Scholars

2008-10-01T16:11:00.002-04:00

Every year through the department of Zoology, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute will fund a certain number of students interested in research in the life sciences for two years. If you are awarded as a Howard Hughes Research Scholar, HHMI will pay you a stipend throughout the school year and during the summer so you can get research experience. Students generally apply during their sophomore year, as this is a 2-year contract with HHMI. This is an excellent opportunity for students interested in undergraduate research, and HHMI will also fund for you to go to various research symposia so you can display your research along with fellow undergraduate researchers. If you are already working in a lab, I encourage you to talk to your Principal Investigator about possibly applying for this great opportunity.
Posted by: Lauren Hysong

University Scholars Program

2008-10-01T16:10:00.008-04:00

The University Scholars program has been an excellent addition to my education here at NC State. I enjoy how much they focus on being a well-rounded student, versed in every thing from politics to the arts, and the emphasis they place on being up-to-date in current news. As a University Scholars student, there are certain expectations the program places for its students to graduate as a University Scholar. You must complete three Scholars Forums with a grade of “satisfactory” before you graduate, have at least 15 hours of “honors” course work completed with a grade of B- or better, and graduate with cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher. Although the Scholars program asks what seems like a lot from its’ students, they also provide you with advantages you may not be able to get elsewhere. For example, Scholars students can register for classes earlier than most students, as well as they offer a Scholars lounge in Sullivan residence hall for only Scholars students to use, free daily newspapers, and a living environment that puts an emphasis on academic success. The University Scholars program also works closely with the WISE program, so don’t feel that you can’t do both. The University Scholars program has been a wonderful experience here at State, and I recommend all students to think about participating in this wonderful program.

Posted By: Lauren Hysong

Thomas Jefferson Scholars Program

2008-10-01T16:10:00.007-04:00

I’m in a unique dual degree program between the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and College of Humanities and Social Sciences which is called the Thomas Jefferson Scholar program. This means I must obtain a major from the life sciences, as well as the social sciences (my two majors are Biological Sciences and Psychology, respectively). Having two majors may seem intimidating at first but it’s really not! A lot of classes tend to overlap, especially if you pick two majors from the same college because the general education requirements are similar. Because I came into college with over a semester of AP credit and community college credit, it has only taken me an extra semester to complete both degrees. The nice thing about the way electives are set up is that most of my Psychology courses have fulfilled my Biology electives and vice versa. So, there is not as much flexibility in my schedule with free electives, but I’m graduating in December with two degrees and have been successful in both. If you’re interested in a double major, I suggest tackling only one at first to make sure you can handle two and the course work that accompanies it. Look at the course requirements for each and see what overlap there is among classes. Remember, having two majors within the same college allows for more class overlap, but if you want to obtain degrees in different colleges it’s definitely not out of reach. Posted by: Catherine Casey

WISE Program

2008-10-01T16:10:00.006-04:00

The Women in Science and Engineering living and learning village is located on the 7^th, 8^th, and 9^th floors of Lee Hall on campus. The WISE Village is a great opportunity for female students in the sciences and engineering to network with other students in their majors. WISE offers a great many opportunities that you could not find elsewhere, such as mentors. The mentors are sophomores who lived in the WISE Village the year before and want to share their positive experience with others, as well as tutor twice a week for students in classically challenging classes. WISE also provides female speakers who have succeeded in male-dominated careers, and also fun social events to help unwind. As a WISE alumnus, I can honestly say that being in the WISE Village was a very positive experience, and I would not have been able to meet many of my closest friends had it not been for the WISE Village.
Posted by: Lauren Hysong

WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) is a living/learning village for freshman and sophomore women majoring in science and engineering. It is a great way to get involved first thing when you start here at NC State. You will meet a great group of women who share similar interests and goals. Many of the girls are also in your classes and you will become very close with your suite mates and other girls in the program. Being involved in WISE also allows you to hear presentations from professors as well as from different professionals. It is a great program to help you build connections and start networking!
Posted by: Karen Payne

University Honors Program

2008-10-01T16:08:00.004-04:00

The University Honors Program (UHP) is another great option to help students find their niche at NC State. Prospective (or current) students must fill out a short essay application, and if accepted, must maintain at least a 3.25 GPA and complete a minimum of 12 hours of honors seminars. There are a variety of seminars offered each semester, all of which can fulfill a general education requirement, so it does not require the student to take any additional classes. These seminars are typically small, with no more than about 20 students per class, and students will often have classes with several of their friends, making the classes very similar to a high school setting. Another benefit of being an honors student is being able to register for classes before the rest of the student body -- although this may seem trivial, it's a huge advantage to be able to plan your schedule around your life, rather than the other way around, especially if you're trying to balance a job or extracurriculars with school! UHP students also have the option of living in the Honors Village. This is combination of three dorms (Bagwell, Becton, and Berry) located on East Campus in what is commonly referred to as "The Quad." There is a great common area in between the dorms with a volleyball court and plenty of grass for other fun activities, and Clark Dining Hall and the Honors Village C-Store (short for convenience store, where students can use their Board Bucks or AllCampus Account to purchase food, toiletries, etc.) both within 100 feet of all three dorms. The quad has an amazing environment because while being on East Campus helps avoid some of the student-congestion of central campus, there is no shortage of fun activities to partake in, schedule both by the RAs, as well as the Honors Village mentors. As a UHP student, I lived in the quad for my freshman and sophomore years, and I wouldn't trade my two years in Becton Hall for anything in the world!
Posted by: Tria Metzler

CALS Honors Program

2008-10-01T16:06:00.009-04:00

The CALS Honors Program invites second year students to join if they have a GPA at or above 3.35. When a student enters the program, he or she will take an introductory class with a faculty mentor and fellow students to understand the basics of research. As a group, they will present their project at the Undergraduate Teaching Symposium. After completing that class, the student will find a faculty mentor to worth with to complete a two semester project in either research or teaching. The findings of this project will be presented at the Undergraduate Teaching/Research Symposium. Upon completing the honors program, students will receive a medal at graduation and have their program completion on their transcript. Students can also be in University Scholars or Honors programs as well.
Posted by: Beth Migliaccio